Dispenser having sequentially operated valves

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly for dispensing a metered quantity of granular material and having two valve plates which define a metering chamber therebetween. One plate forming the inlet valve and being normally open, and the other plate defining the outlet valve and being normally closed. Actuating mechanism is operatively connected to both plates and includes a push rod which is adapted for movement from a release position to a discharge position. The operative connection is such that a first part of the push rod movement causes the inlet valve plate to be moved into a closed position, and during a second part of the push rod movement the outlet valve is moved into an open position. Lost motion means is provided in the operative connection to delay opening movement of the outlet valve plate until after the inlet valve plate reaches its closed position, and the actuating mechanism holds the inlet valve plate closed until the outlet valve plate returns to its closed position.

Leggett DISPENSER HAVING SEQUENTIALLY OPERATED VALVES Inventor: Edward Eric Leggett, Mornington,

Victoria, Australia [73] Assignee: Teco Supplies Pty. Ltd., Victoria,

Australia [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 75,083

[52] US. Cl. 222/446 [51] Int. Cl. G011 11/46 [58] Field of Search 222/444, 448, 450, 222/556, 506, 505, 445, 446; 251/228;

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,361,299 1/1968 Peterson 222/450 X 2,707,543 5/1955 Stoner et a1. 221/243 2,720,338 10/1955 Kovac 221/243 1,260,623 3/1918 Baker et al. 222/505 X 3,1 19,529 1/1964 Maestrelli 222/450 X 1,969,091 8/1934 Miles 222/445 X 904,334 11/1908 Kleppinger 222 445 x 1,330,351 2/1920 Salviolo 222/446 2,252,101 8/1941 Tveter; 222/445 X 2,043,318 6/1936 Conley 222/445 X l/l938 Meanley 222/445 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 544,327 Italy 222/450 Primary ExamineF-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-Diller, Brown, Ramik and I-lolt [57] ABSTRACT charge position. The operative connection is such that a a first part of the push rod movement causes the inlet valve plate to be moved into a closed position, and during a second part of the push rod movement the outlet valve is moved into an open position. Lost motion means is'provided in the operative connection to delay opening movement of the outlet valve plate until after the inlet valve plate reaches its closed position, and the actuating mechanism holds the inlet valve plate closed until the outlet valve plate returns to its closed position.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 3,744,683 [45] July 10,-1 973,

DISPENSER HAVING SEQUENTIALLY OPERATED VALVES This invention relates to a valve assembly of the kind adapted to dispense material from a supply source.

A valve assembly according to the invention is especially useful for dispensing granular material, and finds particular application in apparatus for making tea, coffee, and/or other beverages. It will be therefore convenient to describe the invention in relation to such apparatus, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, nor is it limited to use with granular materials.

Beverage making apparatus requires dispensing valves which are simple to operate and are not susceptible to jamming by granular material such as sugar and powdered tea and coffee. It is also desirable that the valves dispense a predetermined quantity of material during each operation cycle, and that operation should be rapid and positive.

Valves previously available for such apparatus have generally failed to satisfy all of the foregoing requirements. One particular construction utilizes a butterfly valve which is movable between two closed positions and dispenses material each time it is moved from one of those positions to the other. The amount of material dispensed each time however, may vary as that is dependent upon the speed of movement of the valve plate between the two positions. Also, material flow is interrupted by the plate as it arrives at a closed position thereby involving the possibility of material being jammed between the valve plate and its surrounding case. Still further, the operator is required to move the plate beyond a certain point before it is positively driven into the closed position, and consequently insufficient care in operation may result in incomplete dispensation so that the valve will have to be operated a second time.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple and effective valve assembly for dispensing material from a supply source. It is further object of the invention to provide such a valve assembly which is adapted to rapidly and easily dispense a predetermined quantity of material.

The following description refers in more detail to these essential features and further optional features of the invention. To facilitate understanding of the inven- I tion, reference is made to the accompanying drawings where these features are illustrated in preferred form. It is to be understood however, that the essential and optional features of the invention are not limited to the specific forms of these features as shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a valve assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. Sis an underneath plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line lVlV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V--V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to'FIG. l but showing the valve assembly positioned at the end of a first stage of operative movement;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of the two valves corresponding to the position of the assembly shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the valve assembly positioned at the end of a second stage of operative movement; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the positions adopted by the valves corresponding to the assembly position shown in FIG. 8.

A valve assembly according to the invention and as shown in the drawings includes a pair of valve members mounted within a casing in spaced relationship so as to define a metering chamber therebetween. Preferably, both valve members are operable by a single actuating mechanism including lost motion means whereby actuation of one member is delayed until after actuation of the other member has been completed. The arrangementis preferably such that supply of material to the metering chamber is interrupted during or before discharge of material from that chamber.

In one form, the casing is a barrel or tubular body 2 which is connectable at its opposite ends respectively to a supply source and a discharge nozzle. Usually, the barrel 2 is cylindrical, and the supply source may be any suitable container (not shown) adapted to be connected to the barrel through a funnel or conical member 3. It is normal to arrange the barrel 2 with its axis upright and the supply container communicating with its upper end so that material is fed into the barrel 2 by gravity. The lower end portion of the barrel may form the discharge nozzle 4, or that nozzle may constitute a separate member attached to the barrel 2.

The two valve members are preferably located within the barrel 2 one above the other, and both members may be in the form of a substantially elliptical plate 5 and 6 respectively, adapted to close the barrel bore when disposed at an angle other than a right angle, rela-. tive to the barrel axis. Each of the valve plates 5 and 6 is preferably mounted within the barrel 2 for pivotal movement about an axis extending substantially normal to that of the barrel 2. The pivotal axes may extend sub stantially parallel to each other, although that is not essential.

Preferably, each of the plate mountings includes a spindle 7 and 8 respectively, secured to its respective plate 5 and 6 and rotatably mounted in opposite sides of the barrel 2. The minor axis of each elliptical plate may be substantially coincidental with the axis of its respective spindle. One end portion 9 and 11 respectively, of each of the valve spindles 7 and 8 preferably protrudes outwardly beyond the barrelwall for a rea- .son hereinafter made clear (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

Biasing means such as a spring 12 may be operatively connected to each of the valve spindles 7 and8 so as to normally urge the upper or supply valve plate 5 into an open position, and the lower or discharge valve plate 6 into a closed position. The same or separate biasing means may act on the two spindles 7 and 8. In the open position, each of the valve plates 5 and 6 preferably extends at an angle relative to the barrel axis, which angle is between 0 and the angle assumed by the plate when in its closed position. That is, it is preferred that in op eration neither valve plate arrives at a position in which a surface thereof is parallel to the barrel axis.

Actuating mechanism for the valve plates 5 and 6 may take any appropriate form, but in one particular construction as shown in the drawings, includes a pushrod 13 slidably mounted in a bracket 14 which is secured to a side of the barrel 2. The push-rod 13 is operatively connected to both of the valve plates 5 and 6 and is slidable between an inoperative or rest position as'shown in FIGS. 1 to '3 in which the valve plates 5 and 6 assume their normal rest positions, and an operative or depressed position as shown in FIG. 8 in which the supply valve plate 5 is in the closed position and the discharge valve plate6 is in the open position. A spring or other suitable means preferably urges the push-rod 13 into its inoperative position.

In a preferred form, the operative connection between the push-rod 13 and the valve plates 5 and 6 includes a pair of abutments 16 and 17 on the push-rod 13 which are respectively engageable with striker arms 18 and 19 extending laterally from the valve spindle extensions 9 and 11 respectively. Preferably, the abutments 16 and 17 are in the form of annular discs, and disc 17 is secured to the push-rod 13 against relative axial movement, whilst the other disc 16 is slidably mounted on the push-rod 13. The helical compression spring 15 may be interposed between the discs 16 and 17 to urge the slidable disc 16 into constant engagement with the supply valve striker arm 18. The discharge valve striker arm 19 and the fixed disc 17 are preferably arranged so that they engage only after the push-rod 13 has moved a predetermined distance from the inoperative position towards its operative position.

The spring 15 may serve the dual purpose of maintaining engagement between the slidable disc 16 and the supply valve striker arm 18, and urging the pushrod 13 into its inoperative position. In the inoperative position of the push-rod 13, the fixed disc 17 may abut against an inner surface of a side wall of the bracket 14. It is further preferred that the push-rod 13 extends with its axis substantially normal to the pivotal axes of the valve spindles 7 and 8 and also substantially normal to the axis of the barrel 2. Ideally, the push-rod 13 extends between the two spindle extensions 9 and 11 and is slidably supported on opposite sides of those extensions by respective side walls of the bracket 14.

Having now described the principal component parts of a preferred practical embodiment of the invention, the operation thereof is as follows:

A button 21 or other finger engageable device may be mounted direct on the push-rod 13, or it may be operatively connected to the push-rod 13 in any appropriate manner.

The arrangement is preferably such however, that depression of the button 21 causes movement of the pushrod 13 from its inoperative position as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, towards its operative position as shown in FIG. 8. The normal positions adopted by the valve plates 5 and 6 when the push-rod 13 is in its inoperative position, are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The push-rod spring 15 is preferably of predetermined strength so that initial movement of the push-rod 13 towards its operative position causes closing movement of the supply valve plate 5 against the combined influence of its biasing spring 12 and the material bearing against that plate. Because of the initial spacing between the fixed disc 17 and the discharge valve striker arm 19, the discharge valve plate 6 remains in its closed position during closing movement of the supply valve plate 5, so that a closed metering chamber 22 (see FIG. 7) is subsequently defined between the two plates.

When the supply valve plate 5 arrives at its fully closed position as shown in FIG. 7, the fixed disc 17 is engaging or is about to engage the discharge valve striker arm 19 (see FIG. 6). Thus, continued movement of the push-rod 13 in the same direction results in opening movement of the discharge valve plate 6 as shown in FIG. 9 with consequent emptying of the metering chamber 22. Thus, further movement of the push-rod 13 is permitted even though the supply valve plate 5 is closed, because of relative movement between the push-rod 13 and the slidable disc 16, which relative movement of course results in compression of the push-rod spring 15 (see FIG. 8).

With the foregoing arrangement there is no new material entering the metering chamber 22 during discharge thereby ensuring a substantially constant discharge on all occasions. Also, when the push-rod 13 is released for return to its inoperative position, the compression of the push-rod spring 15 holds the supply valve plate 5 in its closed position until after the discharge valve plate 6'has reached its closed, or a substantially closed position. At that stage the compression of spring 15 has been reduced to a degree such that the force of that spring can be overcome by the supply valve biasing spring 12, thereby causing opening movement of the supply valve plate 5. Thus, material is allowed to enter the metering chamber 22 only after the discharge valve plate 6 has reached at least a substantially fully closed position, and waste is substantially if not completely avoided.

An agitator stem 23 or rod may be attached to the supply valve plate 5 or spindle 7 at a position inside the barrel 2 to extend upwardly into the body of the material awaiting to be fed into the metering chamber 22. Movement of the supply valve plate 5 thereby causes agitation of that material body so as to break any cavity which may have formed, especially in the case of granular or powdered material.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an extremely simple and effective valve assembly which is convenient to operate and enables accurate metering of material.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. a dispenser valve assembly including; a hollow casing having an inlet and an outlet to allow passage of material therethrough; a supply valve plate and a discharge valve plate mounted within a tubular section of said casing in spaced relationship to define a metering chamber therebetween; each said valve plate being secured to a respective spindle which extends transversely of said tubular section and is rotatably mounted within opposite wall portions thereof; said discharge valve plate being located intermediate the supply valve plate and said outlet; each said valve plate being movable by rotation of the respective spindle, between a closed position in which it severs communication between said inlet and outlet, and an open position in which material can pass thereby towards said outlet; biasing means urging said valve plates into normal rest positions in which said supply and discharge valves are open and closed respectively; and actuating mechanism separately operable on each of said spindles for operation during a first stage of movement of said actuating mechanism to move the supply valve member into its closed position while the discharge valve remains closed, and during a further and second stage of movement of said actuating mechanism to ,move said discharge valve member into its open position while simultaneously maintaining the supply valve member in its closed position, said actuating mechanism including a push-rod slidably mounted in a bracket secured to said casing and operatively connected to both said spindles to cause rotation thereof in response to axial movement of said rod from a rest position to a depressed position, said operative connection including first cooperating means on said rod and said supply valve spindle directly operable to rotate said supply valve spindle to move said supply valve plate to a closed position in response to movement of said rod to a first position and second cooperating means on said rod and said discharge spindle directly operable after said supply valve plate reaches the closed position to rotate said discharge valve spindle to move said discharge valve plate to its open position in response to further movement of said rod to a second position.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said valve spindles both extend axially beyond one side of said tubular section, the axes of said spindles being substantially parallel and said push-rod extending between said spindle extensions with its axis transverse to said spindle axes, and said first and second cooperating means include a striker arm extending laterally from each said spindle extension, and a pair of abutments on said push-rod for engaging with a respective one of said striker arms when the push-rod is moved towardsits depressed position; V

3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein the abutment engaging with the supply valve striker arm is in the form of an annular element slidable on said push-rod, the other said abutment being secured to the push-rod for movement therewith and being spaced axially from said annular element so as to trail that element during movement of the push-rod towards its depressed position, and a helical compression spring is interposed between said abutments so as to urge the push-rod towards its rest position and overcomes said biasing means during an initial part of the movement of the push-rod from its depressed position towards its rest position, whereby the supply valve plate is maintained in the closed position thereof'until said discharge valve plate reaches its closed or rest position, said spring being compressed after the supply valve arrives at its closed position to allow further movement of the push-rod towards its depressed position and thereby cooperating with said annular element to form the lost motion means.

4. A dispenser valve assembly including; a hollow casing having an inlet and an outlet to allow passage of material therethrough; a supply valve member and a discharge valve member pivotally mounted within said casing in spaced relationship a to define a metering chamber therebetween; said discharge valve member being located intermediate the supply valve member and said outlet; each said valve member being rotatable about a respective pivot axis for movement between a closed position in which it severs communication between said inlet and outlet and an open position in which material can pass thereby towards said outlet;

separate spring means urging said supply and discharge push-rod slidably attached to said casing for longitudi nal movement in a direction transverse to said pivot axes, between an inoperative position and an operative position; first and second abutments attached to said push-rod so that each moves with said push-rod during at least part of the movement thereof from the inoperative position to the operative position; said first abutment being engageable with said supply valve member striker means to move said supply valve member into a closed position while the discharge valve remains closed during a first stage of movement of said pushrod towards said operative position, and being held against continued movement with said push-rod during a second stage of the movement thereof towards said operative position but retaining the supply valve member in its closed position during that second stage; and said second abutment being engageable with said discharge valve member striker means to move said supply valve member into its open position during said second stage; whereby material is unable to be discharged from said metering chamber until after said supply valve member has adopted its closed position.

5. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein said valve members are located within a tubular section of said casing, each said valve member including a valve plate secured to a respective spindle which extends transversely of said tubular section and is rotatably mounted within opposite walls thereof, and each said valve plate is of a size such that it engages the inner surface of said tubular section and extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis thereof when in its closed position, whereby said valve plates cannot be moved beyond their respective closed positions.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein said valve spindles both extend axially beyond one side of said tubular section, the axes of said spindles being substantially parallel and said push-rod extending between said spindle extensions with its axis transverse to said spindle axes, and a striker arm extends laterally from each said spindle extension to form said striker means of the respective said valve member.

7. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein said first abutment is in the form of an annular element slidable on said push-rod, the said second abutment being secured to the push-rod for movement therewith and being spaced axially from said annular element so as to trail that element during movement of the pushrod towards its operative position, and a helical compression spring is interposed between said abutments,

said spring being compressed after the supply valve ar-v rives at its closed position to allow further movement of the push-rod towards its operative position to allow further movement of the push rod towards its operative position and thereby cooperating with said annul arelement to retain the supply valve in its closed position. 

1. A DISPENSER VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING; A HOLLOW CASING HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET TO ALLOW PASSAGE OF MATERIAL THERETHROUGH; A SUPPLY VALVE PLATE AND A DISCHARGE VALVE PLATE MOUNTED WITHIN A TUBULAR SECTION OF SAID CASING IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO DEFINE A METERING CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN; EACH SAID VALVE PLATE BEING SECURED TO A RESPECTIVE SPINDLE WHICH EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY OF SAID TUBULAR SECTION AND IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN OPPOSITE WALL PORTIONS THEREOF; SAID DISCHARGE VALVE PLATE BEING LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE SUPPLY VALVE PLATE AND SAID OUTLET; EACH SAID VALVE PLATE BEING MOVABLE BY ROTATION OF THE RESPECTIVE SPINDLE, BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH IT SEVERS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID INLET AND OUTLET, AND AN OPEN POSITION IN WHICH MATERIAL CAN PASS THEREBY TOWARDS SAID OUTLET; BIASING MEANS URGING SAID VALVE PLATES INTO NORMAL REST POSITIONS IN WHICH SAID SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE VALVES ARE OPEN AND CLOSED RESPECTIVELY; AND ACTUATING MECHANISM SEPARATELY OPERABLE ON EACH OF SAID SPINDLES FOR OPERATION DURING A FIRST STAGE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MECHANISM TO MOVE THE SUPPLY VALVE MEMBER INTO ITS CLOSED POSITION WHILE THE DISCHARGE VALVE REMAINS CLOSED, AND DURING A FURTHER AND SECOND STAGE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING MECHANISM TO MOVE SAID DISCHARGE VALVE MEMBER INTO ITS OPEN POSITION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY MAINTAINING THE SUPPLY VALVE MEMBER IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, SAID ACTUATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A PUSH-ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN A BRACKET SECURED TO SAID CASING AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO BOTH SAID SPINDLES TO CAUSE ROTATION THEREOF IN RESPONSE TO AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD FROM A REST POSITION TO A DEPRESSED POSITION, SAID OPERATIVE CONNECTION INCLUDING FIRST COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID ROD AND SAID SUPPLY VALVE SPINDLE DIRECTLY OPERABLE TO ROTATE SAID SUPPLY VALVE SPINDLE TO MOVE SAID SUPPLY VALVE PLATE TO A CLOSED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD TO A FIRST POSITION AND SECOND COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID ROD AND SAID DISCHARGE SPINDLE DIRECTLY OPERABLE AFTER SAID SUPPLY VALVE PLATE REACHES THE CLOSED POSITION TO ROTATE SAID DISCHARGE VALVE SPINDLE TO MOVE SAID DISCHARGE VALVE PLATE TO ITS OPEN POSITION IN RESPONSE TO FURTHER MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD TO A SECOND POSITION.
 2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said valve spindles both extend axially beyond one side of said tubular section, the axes of said spindles being substantially parallel and said push-rod extending between said spindle extensions with its axis transverse to said spindle axes, and said first and second cooperating means include a striker arm extending laterally from each said spindle extension, and a pair of abutments on said push-rod for engaging with a respective one of said striker arms when the push-rod is moved towards its depressed position.
 3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein the abutment engaging with the supply valve striker arm is in the form of an annular element slidable on said push-rod, the other said abutment being secured to the push-rod for movement therewith and being spaced axially from said annular element so as to trail that element during movement of the push-rod towards its depressed position, and a helical compression spring is interposed between said abutments so as to urge the push-rod towards its rest position and overcomes said biasing means during an initial part of the movement of the push-rod from its depressed position towards its rest position, whereby the supply valve plate is maintained in the closed position thereof until said discharge valve plate reaches its closed or rest position, said spring being compressed after the supply valve arrives at its closed position to allow further movement of the push-rod towards its depressed position and thereby cooperating with said annular element to form the lost motion means.
 4. A dispenser valve assembly including; a hollow casing having an inlet and an outlet to allow passage of material therethrough; a supply valve member and a discharge valve member pivotally mounted within said casing in spaced relationship to define a metering chamber therebetween; said discharge valve member being located intermediate the supply valve member and said outlet; each said valve member being rotatable about a respective pivot axis for movement between a closed position in which it severs communication between said inlet and outlet and an open position in which material can pass thereby towards said outlet; separate spring means urging said supply and discharge valves to normal rest positions wherein said supply and discharge valves are open and closed respectively; a push-rod slidably attached to said casing for longitudinal movement in a direction transverse to said pivot axes, between an inoperative position and an operative position; first and second abutments attached to said push-rod so that each moves with said push-rod during at least part of the movement thereof from the inoperative position to the operative position; said first abutment being engageable with said supply valve member striker means to move said supply valve member into a closed position while the discharge valve remains closed during a first stage of movement of said push-rod towards said operative position, and being held against continued movement with said push-rod during a second stage of the movement thereof towards said operative position but retaining the supply valve member in its closed position during that second stage; and said second abutment being engageable with said discharge valve member striker means to move said supply valve member into its open position during said second stage; whereby material is unable to be discharged from said metering chamber until after said supply valve member has adoptEd its closed position.
 5. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein said valve members are located within a tubular section of said casing, each said valve member including a valve plate secured to a respective spindle which extends transversely of said tubular section and is rotatably mounted within opposite walls thereof, and each said valve plate is of a size such that it engages the inner surface of said tubular section and extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis thereof when in its closed position, whereby said valve plates cannot be moved beyond their respective closed positions.
 6. A valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein said valve spindles both extend axially beyond one side of said tubular section, the axes of said spindles being substantially parallel and said push-rod extending between said spindle extensions with its axis transverse to said spindle axes, and a striker arm extends laterally from each said spindle extension to form said striker means of the respective said valve member.
 7. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein said first abutment is in the form of an annular element slidable on said push-rod, the said second abutment being secured to the push-rod for movement therewith and being spaced axially from said annular element so as to trail that element during movement of the push-rod towards its operative position, and a helical compression spring is interposed between said abutments, said spring being compressed after the supply valve arrives at its closed position to allow further movement of the push-rod towards its operative position to allow further movement of the push rod towards its operative position and thereby cooperating with said annular element to retain the supply valve in its closed position. 